Every year on November 8, colleges and universities across the country come together to participate in the First-Generation College Celebration. Commemorating the passing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which made higher education more accessible by providing financial aid and support to first-gen students, the First-Generation College Celebration offers the perfect opportunity to recognize first-gen students and highlight their unique experiences.
Brighitte Preciado, SSI Retention Programs Director, poses with Peter the Anteater at the First-Gen Day Celebration. Photo credit: Natalie Hadland, OVPTL Communications
At UC Irvine, the First-Generation College Celebration is not limited to a single day. Instead, UC Irvine First Generation and Student Success Initiatives (SSI) team up to celebrate the campus’s first-gen community of over 14,000 with a week of activities and events. This year, First-Gen Week took place from Monday, November 3, to Friday, November 7.
“First-Gen Week highlights UC Irvine’s commitment to access, equity, and student success. The celebration honors the resilience, innovation, and determination that define the Anteater experience,” explains Brighitte Preciado, SSI Retention Programs Director. She adds:
“It also recognizes the transformative impact that first-gen students, staff, and faculty have on our campus and beyond. The week provides space for first-gen students to see themselves reflected and supported across campus while reinforcing UC Irvine’s commitment to helping every Anteater thrive. First-gen students bring heart, creativity, and perseverance to everything they do, and this celebration reminds them that they are seen, valued, and appreciated.”
Michael Dennin, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy, also affirms the importance of celebrating First-Gen Week. He says:
“UC Irvine is a proud supporter of first-gen students, and First-Gen Week is one way that we recognize these students and celebrate their personal experiences, challenges, and successes. It’s a campuswide celebration that lets first-gen students from all Schools and majors know that they are welcome and have a community of support rooting for them.”
First-Gen Week 2025 Events
Attendees check out special first-gen merch at the First-Gen Day Celebration. Photo credit: Natalie Hadland, OVPTL Communications
Day 1: November 3, 2025
UC Irvine First-Gen Week kicked off with Trailblazing: Build Your Own Path (and Mix), where first-gen students were invited to create custom trail mix blends that symbolized their unique educational journeys. Representing the trailblazing nature of students who forge their own paths as the first in their families to attend college, this event offered a fun and delicious way for students to connect and share their experiences.
Students also had the opportunity to attend two other events. First-gen students who also identify as transfer students could attend a Transfer Talk co-presented by the UC Irvine Transfer Student Center (TSC) and Division of Career Pathways. Focused on applying to grad school, the presentation offered practical advice to help students with choosing the right school and program for their future goals.
The second afternoon event was Healthy Happenings: Combatting Impostor Syndrome, a special collaborative event with the UC Irvine Counseling Center and Anteater Success Resources. This edition of Healthy Happenings focused on overcoming feelings of impostor syndrome, a challenge that many first-gen students face during their undergraduate careers.
Attendees spin a prize wheel at the First-Gen Day Celebration. Photo credit: Natalie Hadland, OVPTL Communications
Day 2: November 4, 2025
Day two of First-Gen Week saw two events; the first was a vision boarding event hosted by the TSC. This event invited first-gen transfer students to create vision boards to plan and manifest their dreams. The second event was a first-gen ideation workshop hosted by the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center. At the workshop, students practiced entrepreneurial ideation techniques that encourage effective brainstorming, innovative thinking, and creative problem-solving. Students then pitched their ideas for a chance to win free SSI/TSC print cards and First-Gen branded stickers.
Day 3: November 5, 2025
Day three was the highlight of First-Gen Week and began with a special First-Gen Faculty Talk with Dr. Angela Lukowski, Associate Professor of Psychological Science. During her presentation, Professor Lukowski shared her journey from first-gen student to UC Irvine faculty member. Professor Lukowski has been a proud member of the UC Irvine community since Fall of 2008, when she was hired as an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2016.
Live dance performance at the First-Gen Day Celebration. Photo credit: Natalie Hadland, OVOTL Communications
In addition to her work as a faculty member, Professor Lukowski has devoted herself to serving UC Irvine’s undergraduate student body in roles such as Vice Chair of Psychological Science, where she worked to set and refine the undergraduate curriculum. She has also served on the UC Irvine Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools (CUARS), is currently a member of the Council on Educational Policy (CEP), and is the Faculty Advisor of the UC Irvine First-Generation Faculty Initiative.
Following Professor Lukowski’s talk, SSI hosted the First-Gen Day Celebration and Resource Fair. The premier event of First-Gen Week, the Celebration featured a resource fair that highlighted the many helpful campus resources, services, and programs available to first-gen students. Attendees also enjoyed music and live performances, a photo booth, and exciting giveaways and prizes.
Day 4: November 6, 2025
On day four, SSI hosted the “I Am First-Gen Mixer,” which invited first-gen students, staff, and faculty for a casual social gathering where attendees could decorate canvas pouches while enjoying music. The day finished with the opportunity for first-gen students to get professional headshots taken at the ANTrepreneur Center.
Day 5: November 7, 2025
The last day of First-Gen Week 2025 began with another “I Am First-Gen Mixer,” where attendees could decorate felt pennant flags while getting to know each other. Finally, the week concluded with a second professional headshot session at the ANTrepreneur Center.
Reflecting on First-Gen Week 2025
SSI staff pose at the First-Gen Day Celebration. Photo credit: Natalie Hadland, OVPTL Communications
When reflecting on UC Irvine First-Gen Week, Preciado declared this event a success, thanks largely to the support of partners across campus:
“This year’s First-Gen Week was an incredible success because of the strong partnerships and shared commitment across campus to uplift our first-gen community. From faculty and staff who shared their stories to campus partners who co-hosted workshops and represented their departments at the resource fair, every contribution helped create a meaningful celebration. We’re especially grateful to the Transfer Student Center, ANTrepreneur Center, Counseling Center, and all our collaborators whose support made this week possible.”
If you missed out on UCI First-Gen Week 2025, then mark your calendars for UC Irvine First-Gen Week 2025! More information will be shared in the future, so stay tuned for news and updates.
Want to learn more or get involved with UC Irvine’s first-gen community? Then visit the UC Irvine First Generation website or the UC Irvine SSI website for information on initiatives, services, and upcoming events.
